The tax treatment of employer-provided relocation payments depends on whether you are a civilian employee or a member of the Armed Forces on active duty moving under a permanent change of station (PCS) order.
Civilian Employees
If you are a civilian employee, employer-paid moving expense reimbursements, relocation allowances, move allotments, and other relocation benefits are generally taxable income. These amounts are typically included in your wages and reported on Form W-2.
The moving expense deduction is suspended for most taxpayers through 2025. Therefore, even if your actual moving expenses exceed the relocation payment you received, you generally cannot deduct those expenses on your federal income tax return.
Active-Duty Military Members
If you are a member of the Armed Forces on active duty and move because of a permanent change of station (PCS) under a military order, special rules apply.
Qualified moving expense reimbursements may be excluded from your income. If qualified moving expenses are reimbursed and excluded from income, you cannot also deduct those same expenses.
You may deduct qualified unreimbursed moving expenses that are not reimbursed or otherwise excluded from income. The deduction is figured on Form 3903, Moving Expenses, and carried to Schedule 1 (Form 1040).
Qualified Moving Expenses for Military Personnel
Qualified moving expenses generally include:
- Transportation of household goods and personal effects.
- Travel (including lodging) from your old home to your new home.
- Storage and insurance of household goods and personal effects in certain situations.
Non-Deductible Expenses
The following expenses are not deductible:
- Meals during the move.
- House-hunting trips.
- Temporary living expenses.
- Costs of buying or selling a home.
- Expenses that were reimbursed tax-free.
Reporting Requirements
Civilian Employees
- Relocation payments are generally included in taxable wages on Form W-2.
- No federal moving expense deduction is allowed through 2025.
Active-Duty Military Members
- Complete Form 3903 to figure any allowable deduction for qualified unreimbursed moving expenses.
- Report the deductible amount on Schedule 1 (Form 1040), Additional Income and Adjustments to Income.
- Do not deduct expenses that were reimbursed or excluded from income.
Important Note
Receiving a relocation payment does not automatically mean it is taxable. For active-duty military members moving under a qualifying PCS order, certain qualified moving expense reimbursements may be excluded from income. Any allowable deduction is limited to qualified moving expenses that were not reimbursed or otherwise excluded from income.
Source:
Instructions for Schedule 1
Disclaimer: Always verify details with the current IRS Form 1040 and Schedule 1 instructions, as well as with your state’s Department of Revenue. For complex situations, consult a tax professional or CPA.